On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: - Frontline

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: - Frontline

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Four perfect cocktail dresses

Erin Keane

Issue date: 11/23/09 Section: Frontline

The Holidays are here again! After that initial tryptophan fix, a rush begins: shopping, decorating, and best of all, parties. Ever since I was a little girl, one of my favorite markers of the season was the purchase of a new Christmas dress. My mom would dress my sister and I in jewel toned taffeta frocks with full slips underneath, garnished by lace bows in our hair and black patent Mary-Janes.

This sense of ceremony failed to escape me as I've grown. I still treat myself, each year, at the Holidays to some sparkly new cocktail attire. After all, decking the halls doesn't have to stop at turning on those twinkle lights.

This year glamor is at its height with velvet, metallic, lace, and sequins in high demand and I've found 4 great cocktail dresses that are contending for my 2009 purchase:

(1) I'm dying for the metallic "Quasar Cocktail Dress" at mod-cloth.com. To truly let it shine, I'm imagining it with black opaque tights and a black ruffled t-strap Mary-Jane. I'd add a little black cardigan for Christmas Eve mass that I can take off for the after-party.

(2) Velvet is one of my favorite things to wear to mixers in December, and I love this open backed dress from Kimchi Blue at Urban Outfitters. There is nothing better than looking sassy chic coming and going, and this dress achieves that while being completely tasteful. Maybe with a metallic tight and black cage heels to toughen up this sweet outfit.

(3) A sucker for romance, lace is one of my favorite things to wear all year round. This lace-trim LBD from Free People is a great investment. Not only for seasonal use, you can wear this baby to nearly any occasion. Such is the way with classic basics. Black dresses are one of my greatest weaknesses because they are a blank canvas for accessorizing.

(4) On New Year's Eve there is nothing more fun than heading out on the town with your friends. Looking glitzy is go-to on this last hoorah before the long haul that is winter in this town. Topshop.com is one of the most fabulous things to happen to my fashion life, and this Silver Sequin Shift Dress by Rare is no exception. This dress with those same black cage heels would be epic.

Levres Rouges - Frontline

Levres Rouges - Frontline

City Chic

Erin Keane

Issue date: 11/9/09 Section: Frontline

Media Credit: shesgottahaveitnyc.blogspot.com Whhat's the right shade of lips for this fall?

When winter rolls around one of the first things you'll notice from the fashion set is the transition from the sheer lip glosses and pink sticks of spring and summer to a darker, richer lip color for day or evening. This season red has returned to its neutral status, and we've traded black gloss (though we loved it, YSL) for a more wearable, yet still noir, purple lip.

For years and years I shirked my Cupid's bow lips, slicking them with a Lancome Juicy Tube once or twice a day regardless of the season, low maintenance was my M.O. I didn't want to have to worry about the constant upkeep of a serious lip color. Then one day, my friend Lisa, ever so chic, appeared in class with a red lip so glamorous, I instantly began having Hepburn like visions of myself rocking the penultimate neutral lip and nail color- RED!

Now, with a 1940's revival in full swing, the red lip has returned to claim its place as queen of the lip colors, in matte or gloss, day or evening a rouged up pucker looks fabulous with jeans and a t-shirt and is perfection with a little black dress.

Some of my favorite (tried and true) rouges are M.A.C's matte lipstick in Russian Red ($14) , Chanel's Coco Red ($28.50) is a slightly pinker, more moisturizing formula, and finally Revlon's Matte lipstick in Really Red ($7.99) will last on your lips forever.

Leaving behind the tough to wear black lips of last winter, fashionistas are opting for an easier purple pout for the approaching colder months. Ranging from close to black colors like M.A.C.'s satin finish lipstick in Cyber to blackberry stains lik Covergirl Outlast lipstain in Sassy Mauve ($7.49). Don't be afraid to sport this strong lip, if you nail the right hue for your coloring, a great purple will enhance the color of your eyes and make your skin appear more luminous. I always say, if you're nervous about trying a new look, just rock it for a day, chances are, most people will end up thinking you're more of a trendsetter than a goth girl.

Also, with wearing bold lip color comes a responsibility to maintain. Don't forget to go for a coordinating liner to keep your lips defined and the stick in place. Trish McEvoy's Essential Pencil in Model's Choice ($22) is my absolute favorite, it goes under everything beautifully and looks great on its own with a little gloss on top.

My mother always told me that a quick and inexpensive way to freshen up your look and your mood was to buy a new lipstick, and I pass that on to you. Defeat the dark days of winter depression and get your fashion fix by adding a little rouge to your daily beauty routine.